Pressing-machine.



F. M. BETZ.

PRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION Hum rms. 12, 1912.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHBBT 1.

f1.. /fl I @Nowak www@ F. M. BETZ.

MESSING MACHINE.

APFLICATION FILED PEB. 12, 1912. 1,089,385, Patented Mar. 3, 1914 3SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Z? fe F. M. BETZ.

PRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.12, 1912 Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

GUM?" UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

EEEDERIGK M. BErz,

`or HAMILTON, omo, AssIGNoE To THE omo MACHINERY MANUFACTURING COMPANY,OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PnEssING-MACHINE.

1,089,385.` Y Svpecication of Letters Patent.

-, Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

.Application led February 12, 1912. Serial No. 677,128.

To all whom/it may concern .f i I e Be it known-that I, FREDERICK M: acitizen of the `United States, residing vat Hamilton, in the county ofButler and State` of Ohio, .have invented certain new and use fulImprovements in PressingMachines, of

which the following :is a specification. f My invention relates to animprovement in pressing machines, primarily of that class' for pressinggarments and the like, in 'which a moistened cloth isusually placed overthe` article vto be pressed.

One of the obJects of my invention is to automatically during themovement of the presser head. l

Another object of my invention is `to provide aimachine for pressingclothes, having a stationary work-receiving tableor buck, andra presserhead swingingly mounted, vso as to moveto and from the table in one in#stance, its heater base with and over the table during its pressingoperation, and movable to aposition too-fier accessibility to the table,and a sponging cloth secured to afra-me movable toward and from thetable, intermediate of the table and presser head and capable of movingeither independent or simultaneous with the presser head and the clothadapted to beengaged by the head-pressing surface in one position, inwhich instance the frame telescopically enf gages with the heater head.`The independent movement of the sponging cloth enables the same tobeadjusted over the' goods-'to be pressed, oifering free 'accessibility tothe upper surface of `the spongingfcloth, to

moisten the same'tnanually or otherwisey fore the presser head isbrought 1nto"'o-p eration. The features of fthe invention will be more..

fully set forth in the descriptionof the ac-l ymounted ion the `mountedthepresslngtable 4. The table 4 brought to a plane i companying drawingforming a part of this specification, in Whic Figure lis a sideelevat-ionof the machine, Fig; Q-is `a,.detailed"view of thelowerportion of thepedestal illustrating the treadle forming pressuremeans for the presser head in an operative ositlon. Fig. 3 is a detailedtop plan vlew o the presserhead and spong tion Aon line fv, 'e,Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line a', m, Fig. 3. Fig. G is adetailed elevation online s, s, Fig. 1, of a portion of the frame,supporting locking mechanism lfor the pressing cloth frame and thereleasing means therefor movable with Athe presser fhead mechanism. Fig.7 is an enlarged section on line gy, Fig. 3.' Fig. 8

is a' horizontal section through the presser head illustrating in topplan view a modified form of burner and deliector therefor. Fig. 9 is asection on line fu, e, Fig`.`8. Fig. 10` is a vertical sectionthrougho-ne end of the presserf'head, illustrating an end view of theburner anddefiector. Fig. ,11 is an enlarged sectionnon line m', F ig."8.3"

1 represents the pedestal uponwhich is supported the plate 2.

3 representsthe table-supporting pedestal platey 2,upon which is may beprovided with padding or cushion- `ing material upon its upper surfaceand inclosed Witha cloth cover or the `like and the same may be of suchform or construction requisite to present the proper surface for ironingor pressingV cloth.

5 Arepresents van upwardly projecting -bracliet upon which is mounted anarm 6 of the pressing' head 7. The head 7 is movable to and fromthetable @and swings from one position to another by means of the handle8.

Of course, it is 'obviousthat the head can be swung into andout ofcommission and relatively to and from the table by any wellknown meansmanually `operated or othcr' Wise, Without departing from the featuresofmy invention.

As illustrated in the drawing, I have provided means operated by atreadle for im! parting? additional final pressure to the headfin alpressing operation.

i 9 represents a treadle lever pivotally supported upon the pedestal 1and provided ing cloth frame. Fig. 4 is an enlarged secwith a yoke 10,between the limbs of which is pivotally mounted the pawl 11.

12 represents a rod projected through and guided. by the bracket 13,secured to the pedestal 1. The -rod l2 is pivotally connected to thepressing head arm 6.

14 represents a counterbalance weight fixed to the rod 12 to compensatefor the weightof the head. The rod 12 is provided With a series ofnotches 15, in to which the pawl 11 engages for exerting the treadlepressure to the rod 12 and head 7. The pawl l1 is adapted to beautomatically controlled relative to the rod 12, so las to permit freemanual movement of the head i11- dependent ofY the treadle controlthereof,

- ing the pawl camV plate 17 which is accomplished as follows :-16represents an arm formed on the pawl 11, adapted to en age a cam bracketor plate 17, fixed to an projected from the pedestal 1. 18 represents aspring, one end fixed to the treadle 9, with the opposite end engag- 11and exerting pressure against the same in a direction toward the notches15-of the rod 12. In the normal positiony of the treadle 9, as shown inFig. l, the arm 16, of the pawl 11, engages the y and maintains the pawlout of engagement with the notches 15 and is not released until theforward end of the treadle lever 9 Vis swung downward, as shown in Fig.2. 19 represents a coil spring, one end of which is fixed to the lever9, its opposite end to the pedestal 1, .for automatically returning thetreadle lever to -normal position when released by the foot of theoperator. The release of the treadle lever 9 will cause-,the arm 16, ofthe pawl 11, to engage the inclined surface 20, of the cam late 17,thereby swingf ing, the pawl out cip engagement and away from thenotches 1,5. This means of connection between'treadle lever 9' and rod12 maintains the head in a condition to be freely swung to and from thetable without cordinately moving the treadle upon each movement of thehead, while at the same time treadle pressure can be applied wheneverrequired.

A series of notches 15 are shown, one of which is to be engaged by thepawl in operation, t-he plurality being provided in order-` to adjustthe position of the lever mechanism for proper relation to the thicknessof the padding. used on the table 4.

In operation, the head is brought down over the table 4' manually, theoperator Agrasping the handle 8, after which the treadle is operated forexerting additional or final pressureto the degree required for thework. .The head 7 is of hollow formation provided with the top plate 21.This plate servesas a casingfor the gas burner mounted therein and isprovided with a the pressing operation in` attain speed,v4 Veiiciency,

series of openings for the escape of products of combustion and to admitair to the burners. 22 represents the base or pressing plate ofthe headsecured to the, casing member 21. 23 represents the 'burner mounted"Within the casing head member 21. Said burner may be of any form ofconstruction, or a series .of burners, `to uniformly heat the surface ofthe plate 22. 25 represents a supply pipe for the burner projectedthrough the casing member 21 and is adapted to be moved or 'swung withthe head by employing universal or swivel couplings mounted relativelywith the axis, or fulcr'um, of the swinging head, or flexibletubing maybe employed, connected to the pipe extension 25, or any well-known meansma? be provided for conducting the fuel supp y to the burner which willnot interfere with the movement of the head.

To assist in retracting the head from the table after a pressingoperation, I provide the following tension mechanism effective onlytowardthe limit of the pressing movement of the head, see Fig. 1. 26represents a coil spring, one end mounted within a bore in thecounterbalance -weight 14, the opposite end connected to a rod 27, saidrod being slidably mounted within a bore formed in the bracket 13. lTherod 27, at

its free end, is provided with a nut or head 28, adapted to engageagainst the bracket 13, to restrict the movement of the rod when thepresser head is brought close to` the tablel to expand the spring 26sufficiently to aid in raising the head initially and provide a relieffor the operator. The rod is provided, to allow an idle movement freefrom tension to the presser head mechanism during partial movementsthereof toward the table. l

A universal practice in pressing cloth or wearing apparel by oldfashioned hand operations, is tomoisten the goods before pressing, andthis is accomplished by the use of a moistened cloth, designated asspcngino cloth applied over the goods over which tlie heated iron ismoved under pressure. A material departure from this time- 'testedsponging cloth method is not' herein contemplated, but, on the contrary,I` propose an invention in the nature of a mechanical organizationserving to relieve the operator of much of the manipulative labor..linconvenience andv slowness of the old-time hand. work, While yetretaining and accentuati/ng all the Good featuresof such practice,

so as to ena le even an unskilled worker through the aid of myinstrumentality to uniformity, freedom from danger of local scorching,and high quality results. Y The moisture of the sponging cloth beingrepelled by the heated iron `first penetrates .and to a requisite degreeinitially dampens the goodsysoftens or renders plastic the iiber andenables them toyield freely underl pressure, and conditions the texture,so that upon a continued applicatlon of a heated Viron under themaintained pressure, the

moisture of the fibers is thereupon converted into live steam thatforthwith leaves Vmoisture into steam, and when the iron and v spongingcloth are removed from the goods to be pressed the steam escapesupwardly raising the nap. To accomplish such s onging operationsatisfactorily, accessibility to the sponging cloth is quite adesideratum, and this is accomplished by this invention by mounting thesame tautly upon a frame, with the frame mounted to move to and from thetable of the machine and preferably intermediate ofthe `table and heaterhead. Thus, the cloth can be adjusted over the work, and its upperexposed surface moistened to the degree required by passing a wet spongeover the same. This operation being entirely under the close unimpededscrutiny of the operator, he .is e'nabledI very advantageously ytomoisten such portions differentially if necessary, to produce the mostsatisfactory pressing of the work. This is accomplished and facilitatedby the following instrumentalitiesz-29 represents a frame secured to thelevers 30 which are fulcrumed concentrically with the arm 6 of 'thepresser head and preferably adjacent to the outer sides of the bearingsof the'bracket 5 so that the sponging cloth and presser head base can bebrought in parallelism upon the table. This enables the members to bemoved as a unit toward the table. The levers 30 are each provided with aweight 31 to move the frame to a normal position. 32 represents a framemember upon which the sponging or pressing cloth 34 is drawn andsecured, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7 and held by the thumb pins 35while the frame member 32 is secured to the frame 29 by the fasteningscrews lor bolts 33. The frame 29 has a downwardly projected marginalflange, the edge of which engages into a groove marginally formed Iinthe upper surface of the frame member 32 which assists in holding thecloth upon said member and tautly stretches it across the same.

The pressing ycloth frame lis constructed to telescopically engage thepresser head so that the plate 22 can be brought into contact with thepressing cloth during a pressing operation, but the parts are soarranged that the clothdoes not engage said plate in an` inoperativeposition. This is effected by limiting the upward movement of the levers30 which engage with the pins 36, projecting from the arm o r bracket 5.

From the foregoing it will be observed that my invention lin generalcomprises a presser head normally positioned remotely rom the table andpivotally mounted .so asto move into para lelism" with Vthe table andcounter-balanced for easy manual movement to and from the table, andfree from the treadle mechanism during such movement. The treadlemechanism, in a normal position of the presser head is not in-engagementor connection with the presser head, and therefore, the resser head isre- -lieved of resistance to suc an extent, which is quite an advantageto the operator, for substantially no manual labor is required merely-toswing the presser head into'position vpreparatory to the application ofpressure.

The sponging cloth holder is likewise freely movable into parallelismwith` the table, and manually moved independently ofthe head, andantecedently thereof, to bring'the cloth over the garment on the tableto afford free access to the cloth, so that it can be manually sponged,and the presser head subsequently moved toward the previously positionedholder, registering therewith to bring the heater plate surface indirect contact with the sponging cloth.`

As the pressure cloth frame is weighted so as to automatically swing toan inoperative or normal position, provision has been made to lock theframe against such movement unt-il after the presser head has been moveddownward over the table. This feature avoids the necessity of theoperator holding the frame downward while he is sponging or moisteningthepressing cloth, but it may be regarded as a subsidiary feature totheswinging sponging cloth holder, readily susceptible to modication oromission, without destroying the eliciency of the machine.

In Fig. 6, the preferred means are illustrated for locking the spongingcloth frame, which comprises a latch plate 35, slidably mounted upon alimb of the bracket 5. This plate is provided with longitudinal slots,throu h each of which a screw 36 passes engaglng with said limb.represents a lever pivotally connected to the bracket 5 and havingconnection with the latch plate 35 and the slide plate 38, said slideplate 38 is mounted substantially the same as latch plate 35, with oneend projected in the path of the @am 39, fixed upon the arm 6. 40represents a spring connected to one end of the lever 37 for exertingtension upon the slide plate 38 and latch plate 35a to move themoutwardly. Thus, when the sponging cloth frame is moved downward overthe pressing table, the latch plate 35a will engage beneath the lever 30in rear of the pivot and hold the same in such position untilreleased'by moving the presser head dOWnward, which moveiso ment willbring cam 39 into engagement With the slide. late 38, shifting the lockmembers 35, 3? and 38, and release the sponging cloth frame, permittingthe same to be moved upward simultaneously with the presser head.

l/Vith the form of burner and deflect-or as illustrated in Figs. 8 to11, provided within the presser head, I am enabled to uniformly heat thebase or pressing plate 22, and with a smaller consumption of fuel thanrequired in the type of burner as illustrated in the burner of Fig. 3,and is therefore, the pre ferred form utilized within the head.

The burner comprises a longitudinal extended tube or pipe 4lintermediately connected with the supply pipe 25, said burner beingprovided with a series of orifices 42 located to direct the products ofcombustion toward the base plate 22 of the presser head, striking thelongitudinal deflector plate 43 below the burner, which plate isslightly spaced from the base plate 22, and which directs the productsof combustion upwardly toward the detlector plate 43a projectedhorizontally from the axial line of the burner tube 4l as illustrated inFigs. l0 and 11, and extended longitudinally the entire length of theburner tube 41. This plate 43a delects the products of combustiondownwardly toward the base plate 22, distributing the same uniformlyover said base plate, which uniform heating of the base plate isessential in order to properly press the clothing within the area of thepresser head.

Having described my invention, I claim l. In a machine of the classdescribed, a presser head, means within said head for heating the same,a table, said presser head being mounted to swing to and from saidtable, a frame for supporting a sponging cloth mounted to swing to andfrom the table, means for locking said sponging cloth frame in itsposition for use, and means for releasing the same upon a movement ofthe presser head toward the table.

Q. A machine of the nature disclosed, combining a frame, a garmentsupporting table, a presser head pivotally mounted on the frame andmovable into parallelism with the table, a sponging cloth holderswinging about the axis of the presser head and independently movableinto parallelism with the table, the normal position of the presser hend offering accessibility manually v to sponge the holder cloth, andmeans for retaining the sponging cloth holder in its position over thetable and releasable during the movement ofthe presser head towardnormal.

3. A machine of the nature disclosed, combining a frame, awork-supporting table, an open frameholder for a sponging clot-h havingradiating lever arms pivotally mounted on said frame to swing the holder1,oso,aas

over into proximit with the table, and automatically movable to itsnormal position, a presserhead having radiating lever elements pivotedabout the axis of the lever arms of the cloth holder to swing the headtoward the table into contact with the sponging cloth, retaining meanslfor maintaining the holder in its position over the table preparatoryto the movement of the presser head and adapted4 to be automaticallyreleased to enable said holder to swing simultaneously with the headduring its return.

4. A machine of the nature disclosed, combining a frame, awork-supporting table, an open frame holder for a sponging cloth havingradiating lever arms pivotally mounted on said frame to swing the holderover into proximity with the table', a presser head hav.- ing radiatinglever elements pivoted about thev axis of the lever arms of the clothholder to swing the head. toward the table into contact with thevsponging cloth, retaining means for maintaining the holder in itsposition over the table preparatory to the movement of the presser headand adapted `to be automatically released to enable said holder to swingsimultaneously with the head during its return, treadle and levermechanism adapted to be brought into op` erative connectionwithsaidpresser head element during abnormal position of the head to exert apressure upon the intervening sponging cloth and garment on the table. Y

5. A pressing machine having a work-suppcrtingvtable, a presser headmovable toward and from the table, a sponging cloth holder having itscloth adapted to be positioned over the work on said table, with theexposed surface thereof accessible for manually moistening, a treadlefor applying pressure to bring the members forcibly into contact, aconnecting ratchet bar in pivotal connection with said presser head.pawl mechanism mounted on said treadle.v and means for directing saidpawl toward and into engagement with the ratchet elements of said barduring a pressure movement of the treadle, and release in a reversemovement.

6. A machine of the nature disclosed combining a frame, a garmentsupporting table, a presser head pivotally mounted on the frame andmovable into parallelism with the table, a sponging cloth holder pivotedconcentrically with the presser head and movable independently thereofto position its cloth parallel with the table, the normal position ofthe presser head offering accessibility to the cloth when the latter isin its operative position.

7. A machine of the nature disclosed combining a frame, a garmentsupporting table, a presser head pivotally mounted on the frame andmovable into parallelism with conoentrically with the presser head andmovable independently thereof to position its cloth parallel with thetable, the normal position of the presser head oifering accessibility tothe cloth-'when the latter is in its operative position, and levermechanism adapted to be brought into operative con'- nection with saidpresser head in its active 10 position for applying pressure to bringthe member firmly into contact.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

FREDERICK M. BETZ. Witnesses:

OLIVER B. KAISER, CLARENCE B. FOSTER.

